Tool for changing fluorescent lamp tubes



Nov. 10, 1953 V c. H. ZIESE TOOL FOR CHANGING FLUORESCENT LAMP TUBES Filed Sept. 9, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Carliilzzese BY ATTO/BNE Y5.

F Nov. 10, 1953 c. H. ZIESE TOOL FOR CHANGING FLUORESCENT LAMP TUBES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 9, 1952 z I g INVENTOR. CarZfiZZzese BY P/Z-W/GW v Mm ATTORN EYS Patented Nov. 10, 1953 TOOL FOR CHANGING FLUORESCENT LAMP TUBES Carl H. Ziese, Oklahoma City, Okla. Application September 9, 1952, Serial No. 3Q8,611

This invention relates to tools for changing lamp tubes and more particularly to a tool for inserting fluorescent lamp tubes in or removing them from a ceiling supported fixture while the operator stands on the floor below the fixture.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide an improved lamp tube changing tool which has a length such that an operatorstanding on a floor can easily reach a lamp tube supported on a ceiling above the floor and which is of rigid and light weight construction, so that it is easy to handle and effective in removing the lamp tubes from or inserting them in associated ceiling mounted fixtures; which is controlled entirely from the end thereof held by the operator and is effective to firmly grasp a lam tube and impart longitudinal movement to the tube for removin the tube from or inserting it into an associated socket; which is effective to change fluorescent lamp tubes of difierent lengths; and which is simple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture, easy to use, and effective and efficient in use.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following description and the appended claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a lamp tube changing tool illustrative of the invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevational View of the tube illustrated in Figure 1 with the tube rotated through an angle of approximately ninety degrees from the position illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevational view similar to Figure 1, but showing the components of the tool in a different operative position from that illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the tool;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view on an enlarged scale on the line 5-5 of Figure 3; and

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view on an enlarged scale on the line 6-6 of Figure 3.

With continued reference to the drawings, the light tube removing tool therein illustrated is especially adapted for removing fluorescent tubes from sockets one of which is provided with a 'spring pressed abutment which engages the adjacent ends of the associated tube and is movable relative to the socket in a direction longitudinally of the tube to free the other end of the tube from the other of the pair of sockets holding the tube and has an elongated, tubular handle Ill with a housing formation ll of elongated, rectangular cross sectional shape at ee n of the handle and 4 Claims. (Cl. 29420) extending to opposite sides of the handle. Elongated sleeves IZ and I3 are mounted in end to end relationship on one longitudinal edge of the housing II at the outer open end of the housing and are disposed in endto end relationship with their adjacent ends spaced apart and their outer or distal ends projecting substantially equal distances beyond the corresponding ends of the housing II. A curved finger I4 projects radially from the sleeve l2 at the outer end of the sleeve and in a direction away from the housing I l and a corresponding curved finger l5 projects from the sleeve l3 at the outer end of this sleeve and also in a directionaway from the housing. A

shaft l6 extends through and is rotatable in the 'sleeves I 2 and I3 and curved fingers ll and [8 project perpendicularly from this shaft one at each end thereof and are respectively opposed to the curved fingers I4 and [5. The fingers l1 and grasp a fluorescent light tube IQ of well known construction. These fingers are formed of stiff metal Wire or small rods and are covered with an elastic material, such as rubber, in order that the fingers may obtain as firm a grip as possible on a lamp tube without breaking or damaging the tube.

An arm 20 projects radially from the shaft [6 between the adjacent ends of the sleeves I2 and I3 and extends from the shaft transversely of the housing H toward the side of the housing remote from the sleeves l2 and I3. A hand lever 2! of generally L-shape, is pivotally mounted intermediate its length by a pivot pin 22 on one end ;of a bracket 23 secured to the handle In at the end of the handle remote from the housing i l and extending outwardly of respectively opposite sides of the handle. The lever 21 has one leg 24 extending from the pivot pin 22 partly across the adjacent open end of the tubular handle it and a leg 25 longer than the leg 24 extending from the pivot pin 22 along the handle in in spaced relationship to the handle. A tension element, such as the flexible cable 26, connects the arm 20 at 'its outer end to the hand lever 2! at the distal end of the arm 24 of this lever, so that hand pressure on the leg 25- of the lever 12! moving this leg toward the handle I0 will force the fingers l1 and I8 toward the correspondingly opposed fingers J4 and IE to firmly grasp a lamp tube between the opposed fingers.

A coiled torsion spring 28 surrounds the shaft I 6 between the adjacent ends of the sleeves l2 opposite sides of the handle, elongated sleeves fixedly secured on said housing in end to end relationship with each other and extendinglongitudinally'of the outer end of said housing with their adjacent ends spaced apart, a shaft extending through said sleeve and rotatable therein, curved fingers projecting radially from said shaft one at each end thereof in a direction away from said housing, curved fingers projecting one from each of said sleeves at the outer ends of the sleeves and opposed one to each of the shaft carried fingers, a spring connected between said shaft and said sleeves resiliently urging said shaft carried fingers away from the sleeve carried fingers, an arm projecting from said shaft between the adjacent ends of said sleeves and transversely of the outer end of said housing, a first hand lever pivotally mounted on said handle at the end of the latter remote from said housing, a tension element connecting said arm to said first hand lever for movement of said shaft carried fingers toward the opposed sleeve carried fingers by said hand lever to grasp a lamp tube between the opposed fingers, a locking element carried by said handle and engageable with said first hand lever to hold the latter in lamp tube grasping position relative to said handle, bearing means on said housing, a pin extending through said bearing means transversely of said housing at a location spaced from said handle, tubular guides pivotally mounted intermediate their length on said pin one at each side of said housing and disposed substantially parallel to each other, a U-shaped rod having parallel legs slidably received one in each of said tubular guides and a bight portion spaced from the ends of said guides remote from said handle, one of said legs being longer than the other and having on its end remote from said bight portion a pusher formation engageable with an end of a fixture and effective when said rod is moved in a direction to bring the bight portion thereof nearer said tubular guides to exert a separating force between a lamp tube grasped in said fingers and the corresponding end of an associated lamp tube fixture, a bell crank lever disposed within said housing and pivotally mounted intermediate its length on said housing at a location spaced from said pivot pin, a link connecting one end of said bell crank lever to the bight portion of said U-shaped rod, a spring connected between said housing and said bell crank lever resiliently urging the bight portion of said rod away from the adjacent ends of said tubular guides, a second hand lever pivotally mounted on said handle at the end of the latter remote from said housing, and a tension element connecting the other end of said bell crank lever to said second hand lever for movement of said U -shaped rod by said second hand lever in a direction to force said pusher formation against the adjacent end of a lamp tube fixture.

2. A tool for changing lamp tubes comprising an elongated handle, a sleeve formation extending transversely of said handle at one end thereof, longitudinally curved fingers projecting perpendicularly from said sleeve formation one at each end thereof, a shaft extending through and rotatable in said sleeve formation, longitudinally curved fingers projecting perpendicularly from said shaft one at each end thereof and respectively opposed to the fingers on said sleeve formation to grasp a lamp tube therebetween, a, first hand lever pivotally mounted on said handle at a location spaced from said sleeve formation,

means connecting said first hand lever to said shaft for rotation of the shaft by said first hand lever in a direction to move the shaft carried fingers toward the sleeve carried fingers, a guide pivotally mounted on said handle adjacent said sleeve formation and extendingalong the latter. a rod slidably mounted in said guide and having on one end a pusher formation adapted to engage an end of a lamp tube fixture, a second hand lever pivotally mounted on said handle at a location spaced from said sleeve formation, and means connecting said second hand lever to said rod for movement of the rod by said second hand lever in a direction to exert a separating force between one end of a lamp tube and the adjacent end of an associated fixture.

3. A tool for changing fluorescent light tubes comprising an elongated handle, a sleeve structure extending transversely of and secured to said handle at one end of the latter, tube grasping fingers projecting substantially perpendicularly from said sleeve structure one at each end thereof, a shaft extending through and rotatable in said sleeve structure, tube grasping fingers projecting substantially perpendicularly from said shaft one at each end of the shaft and operatively opposed to the corresponding fingers on said sleeve structure to grasp a light tube, a first manually operated means mounted on said handle at a location spaced from said tube structure, means connecting said shaft to said first manually actuated means for movement of the shaft carried fingers toward the sleeve carried fingers upon operation of said first manually operated means, a guide structure supported on said handle and extending longitudinally of said sleeve structure in spaced relationship thereto, a pusher element slidably mounted in said guide structure and having on one end a pusher formation disposed outwardly of the tube grasping fingers: at the adjacent ends of said sleeve structure and said shaft, a second manually operated means mounted on said handle at a location spaced from said sleeve structure, and means connecting said pusher element to said second manually operated means for imparting longitudinal movement to said pusher element in a direction to exert a separating force between one end of a light tube grasped by said fingers and the adjacent end of an associated tube receiving fixture upon operation of said second manually operated means.

4. A tool for changing fluorescent light tubes comprising an elongated handle, a sleeve structure extending transversely of and secured to said handle at one end of the latter, tube grasping fingers projecting substantially perpendicularly from said sleeve structure one at each end thereof, a shaft extending through and rotatable in said sleeve structure, tube grasping fingers projecting substantially perpendicularly from said shaft one at each end of the shaft and operatively opposed to the corresponding fingers on said sleeve structure to grasp a light tube, a first manually operated means mounted on said. handle at a location spaced from said tube structure. means connecting said shaft to said first manually actuated means for movement of the shaft carried fingers toward the sleeve carried fingers upon operation of said first manually operated means, a guide structure supported on said handle and extending longitudinally of said. sleeve structure in spaced relationship thereto, a pusher element slidably mounted in said guide structure and having on one end a pusher formation disposed outwardly of the tube grasping fingers options at-ltheaadjaoentonds of t=soidtsleeyeistrnpturoand. saidt shait, os-ajseoondkmanually .operated, means. mountedion zsaid, handle at. .a location .spaced" fromzsaidasleeyetstructure and. .means 7 connectin rsaiidz-pusheraelement' to said-second -5manua11y onemtadzmeans,sfor-impartingdongitudinalz-movemerit: :to said:. tzusher ;e1ement1 in a" direction; to exertua lseparatingaiorc'e between one and... :of :a Iighttube tgralsped 'by said-fingers and the sad.- j'a'cent'end of an associated tube receiving 11xture' upon operation of: said second manually operated,means, .saidfigui'cie structure being ,pivotally supportednn said*hazndlefor-;rocling-rnovements" about an axis atright angles-mo the axis ofi-sa'id'shaftz CARL H; 'ZIESE;

References Gited -'in"the= fl1e'= 0f':;this UNITED SIATESIPA'IENYISf Number 

